Village Of Valleyview

FINANCE MEETING FIASCO

Oct 22, 2002

On October 16th, the Finance Committee meeting met with a standing room only group of residents to discuss the financial condition of the Village. The Finance Committee consists of Irene White (Chair), Jack Morgan and Steve Williams. Also in attendance were Village Fiscal Officer Linda Stoner, Councilperson Robert Graves, Councilperson Sue Huber and Mayor Graves. Yes, Ms. Huber actually showed at a meeting. Councilperson Paul Parrish was present as well but sat with the residents.

Chairperson White conducted the meeting by reading everything the Village owes and upcoming expenses that will be incurred. Councilpersons Williams and Morgan just sat there with a blank look with no idea what was happening. Ms. White kept asking questions of Councilpersons Williams and Morgan but they did not respond. Finally Ms. White stated ?“I guess I?’m doing this meeting all by myself.?” Council member Morgan stated, ?“Irene you?’re talking so much; I don?’t know what you?’re talking about?”. Councilpersons Williams and Morgan failed to get involved with the meeting and asked very few questions. The questions they did ask were sarcastic towards Ms. White. Ms. White also had failed to provide to her fellow committee members any information that she was discussing. She told them they could get the information themselves if they asked.

Ms. White continued discussing the cost of the leaf collection for this year. Ms. White noted that Franklin Township receives approximately $2,200 in Village tax money each year, which is generally used for leaf collection. Councilpersons Williams and Morgan didn?’t believe the Township did a good job at collecting leaves and did not wish to have the leaves collected. Ms. White noted the Township would keep the $2,200 whether they collect leaves or not. Council Morgan stated ?“Let them do their $2,000 and get out.?” This would be only one pick-up; usually the Village pays for part of the second pick up. The residents would need to be informed as to when the leaf pickup would end so that they would not place leaves in their yard for pick up and destroy their lawn when they were not picked up. No formal decision was made and the residents still don?’t know when and if their leaves will be picked up.

Suddenly the mayor spoke up stating, ?“The main purpose of this meeting is to figure out where we need to cut to save money?”

Councilperson Sue Huber kept interrupting the meeting with sarcastic comments. Ms. White asked her repeatedly not to interrupt. When Ms. Huber continued to interrupt, Ms. White asked a police officer to notify Ms. Huber to be quiet or leave. The officer told Ms. Huber not to interrupt the meeting again or he would remove her from the building. Councilperson Huber just laughed about it.

While Ms. White continued to discuss the bills due, Village Fiscal Officer, Linda Stoner broke in stating, ?“ I keep telling you we are broke.?” ?“We don?’t even have enough money to pay the police!?” During the meeting Ms. Stoner decided to read a book rather than pay attention to what was happening with the meeting, the book appeared to be a romance novel. Ms. Stoner showed no interest in the meeting. She did not seem concerned about the cuts in the Police force. Why would she be concerned, she is not a resident of the Village? Her yearly salary would provide two months of Police coverage for the Village. Ms. Stoner does not have a vested interest in the Village.

At 8:00 pm, only one hour after the committee meeting started, Councilpersons Williams and Morgan WALKED OUT of the meeting! Residents were heard yelling, ?“You can?’t leave?”, ?“Please don?’t leave?”, ?“Get back here?”, and ?“Thanks for representing us?”, Councilpersons Williams and Morgan did not return.

Ms. White lost control of her meeting. She made it clear to mayor Graves that it was her meeting and she would be running it. Ms. White did not provide the information necessary to the other committee members so that they could be involved in the discussion. Ms. White did give important facts during the meeting and allowed the residents an opportunity to be heard, but Ms. White was observed sitting there smiling as the residents yelled at the other council members as she failed to call for order.

Councilperson Williams was escorted from the building by Police Officers after threatening a resident and telling that resident ?“you know where I live, I?’ll meet you on the other side of the tracks anytime?”. Is this the type of people we need representing the residents?

Councilpersons Williams and Morgan failed to do their sworn duty to the residents and were only concerned for themselves. The Council members have an obligation to the community to which they chose to serve. If they cannot or do not wish to do their duty they should resign and be replaced by a concerned resident.